A Steamboat Springs Police Department special assignment unit, launched in July of this year, is focusing on enforcing good driving behavior throughout Steamboat Springs by patrolling for traffic violations.

Three patrol officers were put in the special assignment unit, all of which were chosen based on their passion for traffic control.

“Over the last few months, our three special assignment unit officers have worked to establish themselves in their new roles,” Sgt. Evan Noble said. “They have attended training, including advanced training on Fourth Amendment issues, and will continue to attend training to advance their roles. They have also had to learn how to work with their new team and build bonds to work as a cohesive team.”

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Officer Dunte Valrey, patrol officer who focuses on traffic violations on Lincoln Avenue, hopes the unit is making strides in road safety. During a ride-along with Steamboat Pilot & Today staff, Valrey expressed a passion for helping citizens form good driving habits.

According to records provided by Noble, the special assignment unit wrote 155 citations for traffic stops in August and September of this year, which is 39% of all traffic stops made by the police department. The unit made 358 traffic stops in total.

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During the ride-along, Valrey made it clear that not every traffic stop ends with a citation. Officers are trained to make the call according to various factors, such as if the driver has previous violations, the driver’s response to being pulled over and vehicle registration status.

According to Valrey, many of the traffic stops made are due to speeding, running red lights and failing to stop at stop signs in the downtown area. However, the unit is concerned with traffic violations throughout the city, especially in school zones. 

“With school starting back up, we’ve been really focused on school zones,” Noble said. “Officers have made a lot of traffic stops for speeding and stop-sign violations in those areas.”

Since creation of the unit, its goal has been to improve overall road safety and vehicle registration compliance, while also catching those with higher-risk warrants.

According to Noble, there’s nothing outside of the special assignment unit’s realm when it comes to enforcing the law.

“We use this unit for anything from firework enforcement to underage drinking enforcement,” he said.

Steamboat locals have noticed the rise in traffic stops in specific areas and frequently warn fellow citizens of patrols on community social media pages. According to Noble, any publicity is good publicity.

According to Valrey, one of the benefits of patrolling Lincoln Avenue is making sure that a police presence is seen by the public.

“Patrolling Lincoln Avenue not only helps us enforce the law,” said Valrey. “But it’s also a way to make people feel safer.” 

The special assignment unit is keeping eyes out for more than just bad driving habits. Officers keep their eyes peeled for bicycling violations, too.

“Our officers know what the law is regarding those violations,” said Noble. “When they see a violation, they make contact.”

Noble added that the Steamboat Springs Police Department would consider running a campaign to improve biking safety in the spring or summer to set expectations for the rest of the year.

Although the special assignment unit has helped remind people of good driving habits, it may be a long time before the city sees significant changes in the frequency of traffic violations.

“Unfortunately, we’re still pulling people over for excessive speeding and running stop signs,” said Noble. “In our first month, we pulled over just as many people on Day 30 as we did on Day 1.”

Valrey wants people to know that it’s not just about giving out tickets. The special assignment unit is dedicated to improving road safety over time. 

“We’re not out to make as many citations as possible. We’re not out to get people,” said Valrey. “We’re here to serve the public and make sure the community is safe.”